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Feb. 7, 1956 c. E. YATES ET APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CASTINGS FROM MOLDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1952 FIG. 2

)N V E NTO RS Char as E Vafes Ca/w'fl D. Pearce Feb. 7, 1956 c. E. YATES ET AL APPARATUS FOR REMOVING CASTINGS FROM MOLDS Filed Jan. 5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS C/mr/es 7 Vafas Ca/w'n 17. Pearce BY .4

ATTO R N EYS "tthe haseplate 18 United States Pateiit 2,733,490 hi'PARATI-I'S Foii REMOWNGCASTHQGS FROM MOLDS Ffhis {invention relates to apparatus for lowering castsin gs open-ended molds. The apparatus comprises essentiallya mold having :a vertical mold cavity extending through it and which "can be sealed at its bottom thy avhinge'd 'baseplate, in combination with a pivoted elevator mechanism adapted, when the -'basep'late i's swung away'fromthe bottom of the mold, 'to lower the casting :down .0111: of the mold while the elevator is in a vertical position beneath ,-the mold. The elevator mechanism, iwhilessutiportingthe casting, is then pivoted to a horizontal (position. The removal of large bastings from permanent molds after the molten metal has solidified is accomplished in a variety of ways. A pfa'ctic'e that is coniriion; for exfainplein the :steel industry, "is to lift theindld from the "tasting; In the copper industry it is customary to use water-cooled molds for makin g lar'g'e castings, fa'nd such molds it is pr fera'bl'e retentive the basting .troinsthe mmldra-the'r than vice 'versa. This is advantageously accomplished by opening the bottom it the mold-and allowing -'the solidifying eastin to dro down 'of the :mold' cavity. =L 'an'ge ieakes of copper 35001651000 pounds an five or six feet long. To avoid iinjury to the suffaoes 'fsu'e'h large and heavy easteini' sy the must be lowered gently and smoothly from mold cavity; Furthermore, it is import-ant that the castings, after being completely removed from" the mold, he tilted' to Ja ihoi i zon tal positioh, since "they ean he more readil y handled and picked by tongs or otherwise, wheh'restin'g in siic'h position. p e The "present invention provides improved apparatus designed-to n'ie'et'these require en t's in the lowering of ieastingsjtrom molds. The new e' copper alloy w igh hem v P d haviirg a vertical mold d'aifiityfextendl basep'late isplac'd a thebottom' o'fime I p piviotedito' swihg in ar euate path betviieen full-y fbloset pbsition' where i't 'seals against the *h tom of the it? old'cavityanda'ful'ly j side of andb'low th'e' rnold cavity. A ba'il is previdedto suppor't the has'epl'ate, the bail biri-g' pi-vot'ed to in an' arcu'ate path between a position beneath the ?haseplate for iiip r iitgfithe latter in its fully closed positions-nit a position free from the baseplate when it allows t e latter to fall to it's'fully open position. Addantage odsly the "uncle 1 ide or the basepl'ate isprovided "with a'icam'pla't'e fornhed a lift and with an adjoining i ecess;. aznd gagesthe liftoftliecamplat'e held its fully "closed -Ii'os'itioh and "when rhe ibail fen gagesih"the-recessef the "camiplat'e' the baseplateits held 'in'ei partly epnpos ition.

ipparatds turther cemprise's an "elevator eluding an elevatbr "an-n that is pivoted refiieiiably' afits base) at a poiiit below the nidld "so as to be movable in an arcuate path navertic's esitien,

'ielevatdr plat'formi's mounted upon and movable airing the -sponding to the length of a casting.

2,733,490 atented Feb. 7, 1956 7 :2 'lengthofthefielevator arm through a distance corre- Means are provided to) move the elevator arm and the platform through their respective paths of travel When the elevator arm is in its vertical position, it extendsat least up to and adjacent to the bottom of the mold. By swinging the p'ivoted elevator mechanism so thatthe plat-form strikes against the bail ind swings it intothe; recess {of the cam plate, the baseplat'e is allowed tQESWing .-fror'n' v thebottom of the mold to 'its "partly open position' :so that .the casting drops part way out of the mold. ,Th'en by :further mahipulation of the elevator mechanism; the felevato'r platform may be inserted be- 'neath the :eXposed bottom of the casting and the baseplate andhthe bail may be forced completely :lear er the bottoin of ihe mold, thereby allowing "the baseplate to swingto its fully opehposition and at the same time receiving the boftom of the (fasting o i1 the elevator platform. 'lFinally the elevator :is maneuvered to lower the casting "from the mold and tilt it 'to a horizontal position.

=Preferahly, althoiigh -'not necessarily, the e'le'vator and the elevator platform are "operated by hydraulic means; p

advantageous embodiment of this apparatus "is shown in the aeeempanying di awi 'rigs, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of ihol'd and elevator assemly; i t Fig. g is -a tab of the wateechelea mold water connections; v

Fig. ifs a gihen'tary from" mechanism as see from the Q showing the eel-reduction of The elevator arm arid ";levator platform; i I p t. p k t Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the elevator mechani's'r'n while it "is fkirc'ifi the supporting bail we {the recess "df 'the cam late at the totem of the haseplate;

- Fig. 5 is an elevatioii of the elevator meehanis'mjwith the elevator platform inserted part "way underneath the exposed lower end of the oas'ting a'fter thelbas'eplatefhas been swung to a partly open "position at the 'bottoihof themoldi Fig. 6 is an eIeiiatikS tJ, off the elevator mechanism in 'a vertical position s ppetun theeasting and removing it from the mold after the baseplate has swung t'oits thawin its fully open position;

substantiallyhorizontal position removed frorn it'fby tongs. h

In, Fig, l afwater-cooled mold 10 is supportedat a substantial distance upffromth'e, mold pit floor 111 .by posts 12 and braces 13. A framework of floor beams 14 supports a working platform 15 and a hand railing 1 6 abeii the upper portion of the 'i'nold so as to provide-a working larea'at the casting level. A laddle 17 ,provides for pouring molten metal into the upper end of the meta 1 0. Water Ip'ipe's L8 2;)qcionnected to the water passages '27 injthe walls of the mold lby connections supply Cooling Water to the mold. A mold eavity' ltkextend's vertioally completely through the mold, and is olojsedat the bottom 'ofthe mold b'yia baseplate 21.

"The baseplate 21 is pivotally mounted at. its sideon ahin'ge 22 so that it can'jbe swtihg',fromits closed position against the bottom of thelmold to affiilly-open position in which it hangs below and-to one side of the mold. A pair of pairall'elcarnpl'ates 23 are mounted one at-each side on the undersur'face of 'thebaseplate and are-provided with lifts 23a at 'theirfrontposition-and with recesses 23]: near the hinge. "A U sha'ped bailj24,twhi ch-is supported at itsupper ends by pivot'piris 23 mounted on the side walls of the mold, supports the baseplate in a closed or sealing position against the bottom of the mold when-it swung forward to engage the lifts 23a of the cam plates 23, as shown in Fig. 1. When the bail is pushed back about its pivot support 25 so as to move into the recesses 23b of the cam plate, the baseplate swings to a partly open position (Fig. 4); and when the bail is pushed clear of the baseplate the latter drops to its fully opened position (Fig. 6). p

The elevator mechanism comprises an arm 26 formed of a pair of beams 28 each pivotally mounted at its base on a shaft 29 at the foot of supporting posts 12. A hydraulic cylinder 36 is pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft 32 extending between a pair of plates 31 which are rigidly attached to a corresponding pair of the supporting posts 12. A connecting rod 33 secured to the piston of the hydraulic cylinder .30 is pivotally attached to an extension bar 35 which is rigidly secured to and extends out from the elevator arm 26. By actuating the piston in the hydraulic cylinder 30, the elevator arm 28 can be brought up into a vertical position with its upper end adjacent to the bottom of the mold, or can be lowered to a substantially horizontal position on the mold pit floor 11. An elevator platform 37 is rigidly supported on arms 38 extending laterally from a movable carriage 40 (shown in Figs. 3 and 4) which is mounted for movement up and down the length of the elevator arm 26. The platform 37 is arranged at right angles to the elevator arm 26 and extends horizontally directly underneath the bottom of the mold 10 when the elevator arm is in a vertical position.

As is best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the movable carriage 40 is mounted on wheels 39 which are supported and roll on a track defined by the channel-shaped beams 28 which form the elevator arm 26. This carriage 40, and with it the platform 37, thus are movable freely up and down the entire length of the elevator arm. The carriage 49 has afloor plate 41 mounted upon it which is perpendicular to the platform 37 and parallel to the elevator arm 26. In addition the platform 37 is formed with an extension plate 42 at right angles to it. The floor plate 41 together with the extension 42 of the platform serve to support the casting after it has been removed from the mold and when it is tilted to a substantially horizontal position.

As is best shown in Fig. 1, the piston of a hydraulic cylinder 43 is connected by a connecting rod 44 to an eye 45 which is attached to a cable 46. The cable 46 runs over a pulley 47, which is mounted at the base of the supporting posts 12. Thence it passes over a pulley 455 which is mounted for rotation on the axis of the shaft 29 on which the elevator arm 26 pivots, and then up the length of the elevator arm 26 to and over a pulley 49 which is mounted at the upper end of the elevator arm. The cable 46 then returns down the arm and is attached to the movable carriage 46. Thus, the carriage with its floor plate 41 and platform 37 can be raised and lowered up and down the entire length of elevator arm 23 by movement of the piston back and forth in the hydraulic cylinder 43.

Two parallel guide plates 36 spaced apart approximately the width of a casting are mounted on the elevator arm 26 at right angles to it so that a casting can pass down between them and be held by them from tipping over sideways as it is being lowered out of the mold while the elevator arm is in a substantially vertical position.

Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, show the elevator mechanism at various stages of its operation in the removal of a casting 51 from the molrl'lti. In Fig. 4, which shows a section taken through the elevator arm 28, the platform 37, mounted on the carriage 4-0, has been raised to a position in line with a projection 50 extending down from the lower end of the bail 24. The elevator arm 28 has been tilted up to an almost vertical position and is now swung so that the tip of the elevator platform 37 strikes against the projection 54 Thereby the bail which is supporting the baseplate 21 is forced back along the cam plate 23 away from engagement with the lift 23a and toward the I recess 23b.

In Fig. 5, the forcing of the bail into the recess 23b in the undersurface of the cam plate has allowed the base plate to drop down to its partially open position and coincidentally the casting 51 has dropped a short distance out of the mold. The elevator platform 37 now is raised to a level between the bottom of the casting 51 and the upper surface of the baseplate. At this level the bail is provided with a pair of push bars 52 positioned to be engaged by projections 53 mounted one on 'each side of the platform at its forward end. As the elevator arm 26 is drawn up by the hydraulic cylinder 30 the platform 37 is brought into position to receive and support the lower end of the casting 51 and at the same time the bail, by engagement of the push bars 52 with the projections 53, is pushed clear of the baseplate and the latter drops to its fully open position.

As shown in Fig. 6 the casting now rests upon platform 37 and is gently lowered down out of the mold as the platform 37 is lowered by its cable 46. The elevator arm 26 is held in its vertical position by the hydraulic cylinder 30 during the lowering of the casting 51 out of the mold.

In Fig. 7 the elevator arm 26 is shown being lowered from its vertical position to a substantially horizontal position after the casting 51 has been completely removed from the mold cavity. The base of the casting rests upon the platform 37 and its side rests upon the floor plate 41. The guide plates 36 enclose the casting on both sides and prevent the casting from slipping sideways off the elevator arm 26.

In Fig. 8 the elevator arm 26 is shown in its lowermost substantially horizontal position, and tongs 54 suspended from a crane have been placed so as to grip it and lift it from the elevator arm 26.

The above-described embodiment of the present invention has proved to be extremely satisfactory in operation. A considerable number of large copper cakes, each weighing about 1800 pounds and being some 6 feet long, have been removed gently but quickly from a water-cooled mold by its use in the manner described. The surfaces of the cakes were found after removal to be entirely undamaged by the removal operation. No great skill is required to operate the apparatus successfully, and it has proved to be sturdy and free from operating difficulties.

We claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a mold having a vertical mold cavity extending through it, a baseplate pivoted to swing in an arcuate path between a sealing position against the bottom of said mold cavity and a position to one side of and below said mold cavity, a supporting bail pivoted to swing in an arcuate path between a position beneath and supporting said baseplate and a position free from said baseplate, an elevator arm disposed beneath said mold and pivoted to swing in an arcuate path between a vertical position and a horizontal position, said elevator arm in its vertical position extending at least up to and adjacent the bottom of the mold opposite the pivot of said baseplate, means to move said elevator arm in its arcuate path, an elevator platform mounted upon and movable along the length of said ele vator arm, said platform being positioned beneath said mold cavity when said elevator arm is in a vertical position, and means to move said platform up and down the length of said elevator arm, said elevator platform striking said supporting bail beneath said baseplate when said platform is moved adjacent the upper end of said elevator arm and said elevator arm is moved to its vertical position,

whereby said bail and baseplate may be swung from beneath the bottom of the mold by forcing said elevator platform against said supporting bail so as to allow the casting to drop out of the mold cavity and rest upon the said platform and elevator arm.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a mold having a vertical mold cavity extending through it, a baseplate pivoted to swing in an arcuate path between at-sealing; position against the 'bottom'ofusaid moldiczivity and a position to 'oneside; of and below'isaid'mold' tcavity,

anselevator :arm disposed heneathnsaid ,moldand piuoted -at' its-base to .swingin an arcuate path between-a vertical position and aihorizontalposit-ion,saidielevator'arm in-its 7 move said platform up" and-down the length at said "*levator arm. 7 I a Apparatus-of thechara cter described comprising a moldhaving a vertical*moldcavityextending thro h it,

abaseplate pivoted to 'swinginan' arcuate path b" Ween asealingposition-against the bot-tom of said mold'cavity and a pos'ition--toone-side'of-andbelow'said mold cavity,

position, i an elevator arm disposed be rieath said moldand pivoted to s'wing-in-an"arcuate'path between averti'ail position and "a" horizontal position, said 'el'evator arm in "its vertical position extending at least up to and adjacent the bottom of the mold opposite the pivot of said baseplate, means to move said elevator arm in its arcuate path, an elevator platform mounted upon and movable along the length of said elevator arm, said platform beingmovable to a position adjacent and beneath said mold cavity when said elevator arm is in a vertical position, and means to move said platform up and down the length of said elevator arm.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a mold having a vertical mold cavity extending through it, a baseplate pivoted to swing in an arcuate path between a sealing position against the bottom of said mold cavity and a position to one side of and below said mold cavity, an elevator arm disposed beneath said mold and pivoted at its base to swing in an arcuate path between a vertical position and a horizontal position, said elevator arm in its vertical position extending at least up to and adjacent the bottom of the mold opposite the pivot of said baseplate, hydraulic means to move said elevator arm in its arcuate path, an elevator platform mounted upon and movable along the length of said elevator arm, said platform being movable to a position adjacent and beneath said mold cavity when said elevator arm is in a vertical position, and hydraulic means to move said platform up and down the length of said elevator arm.

5. Apparatus of the character described comprising a mold having a vertical mold cavity extending through it, a baseplate pivoted to swing in an arcuate path between a sealing position against the bottom of said mold cavity and a position to one side of and below said mold cavity, a supporting bail pivoted to swing in an arcuate path between a position beneath and supporting said baseplate and a position free from said baseplate, an elevator arm disposed beneath said mold and pivoted to swing in an arcuate path between a vertical position and a horizontal position, said elevator arm in its vertical position extending at least up to and adjacent the bottom of the mold opposite the pivot of said baseplate, hydraulic means to move said elevator arm in its arcuate path, an elevator platform mounted upon and movable along the length of said elevator arm, said platform being positioned beneath said mold cavity when said elevator arm is in a vertical position, and hydraulic means to move said platform up and down the length of said elevator arm, said elevator platform striking said supporting bail beneath said baseplate when said platform is moved adjacent the upper end of said elevator arm and said elevator arm is moved to its vertical position, whereby said bail and baseplate may be swung from beneath the bottom of the mold by forcing said elevator platform against said supporting bail islupporhsaid baseplate andaapositionfree from leaf discs plate; saint bail supporting said baseplate in itsifullVdlost: position when it "engages "the lift of the ca atefi'fifi supp orfing the baseplate in apartly' closedsition'when itengages the recesses of the cam plate,a elevatorrarm disposed beneath :said mold and 'pivo led' 't o swin'g in arcuateipath 'be'taw'eena vertical'position-and"a' 0 cute] igpositio'n; saidelevator ,arm iniits vertic'a'lpos on' xtenning at least up to and adjaden-t the' bot tom 0f the mold opposite "the pivot of said tbasplate smeans to'niove said elevator arm- :in 'its ia'rcuat'e path, ianyeleva'tor pattern: mounted upon and movable along the length of said elevator arm, said platform being positioned beneath said mold cavity when said elevator arm is in a vertical position, and means to move said platform up and down the length of said elevator arm, said elevator platform being adapted to move said supporting hail from beneath said baseplate when said platform is moved adjacent the upper end of said elevator arm and said elevator arm is moved to its vertical position, whereby when said bail is moved by the elevator platform from its position engaging the cam plate lift to its position engaging the cam plate recess said baseplate swings from its fully closed position to its partly closed position so that the elevator platform may be inserted between the baseplate and a casting formed in the mold cavity whereat it may then force said bail and baseplate completely clear of the bottom of said mold.

7. In apparatus for lowering castings from a mold having a vertical mold cavity extending therethrough and a removable base plate closing the bottom opening thereof, the combination comprising an elevator arm disposed beneath said mold and pivoted at its base to swing in an arcuate path between a vertical position and a horizontal position, said elevator arm in its vertical position extending at least up to and adjacent the bottom of the mold, means to move said elevator arm in its arcuate path, an elevator platform mounted upon and movable along the length of said elevator arm, said platform being movable to a position adjacent and beneath said mold cavity when said elevator arm is in a vertical position, and means to move said platform up and down the length of said elevator arm, whereby castings dropped down out of said vertical mold cavity to rest upon said elevator platform and arm may be lowered to a horizontal position.

8. In apparatus for lowering castings from a mold having a vertical mold cavity extending therethrough and a removable base plate closing the bottom opening thereof, the combination comprising an elevator arm disposed beneath said mold and pivoted to swing in an arcuate path between a vertical position and a horizontal position, said elevator arm in its vertical position extending at least up to and adjacent the bottom of the mold, hydraulic means to move said elevator arm in its arcuate path, an elevator platform mounted upon and movable along the length of said elevator arm, said platform being movable to a position adjacent and beneath said mold cavity when said elevator arm is in a vertical position, and hydraulic means to move said platform up and down the length of said elevator arm, whereby castings dropped down out of said vertical mold cavity to rest upon said elevator platform and arm may be lowered to a horizontal position.

9. In apparatus for lowering-castings from a mold having a vertical mold cavity extending therethroughand a removable base plate closing the bottom opening thereof, the combination comprising an elevator arm beneath said mold and pivoted to swing in an arcuate path between a vertical and a horizontal position, said elevator arm in its vertical position extending at least up to and adjacent to the bottom of the mold, hydraulic means to move said elevator arm in its arcuate path, a carriage mounted upon and movable along the length of said elevatorarm, an elevator platform secured to and extending laterally out from said movable carriage, said platform being movable to a position adjacent and beneath ,said mold cavity when said elevator arm is in vertical position, and hydraulic means to move said carriage up and down the length of said elevator arm,

whereby castings dropped down out of said vertical mold cavity to rest upon said platform may be lowered thereby totbelow the mold and then may be lowered with said elevator arm to a horizontal position.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which the base plate is swingable to said position at one sided and below-said mold cavity upon movement of the platform to aposition adjacent and beneath the mold cavity.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including means for latching said base plate in a sealing position against the bottom of the mold and means forming a part of the elevator platform for engaging said latching means and moving it to unlatching position as said platform is moved to a position adjacent and beneath the mold.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

